Seat cane



Nov. 27, 1956 w uc 2,771,938

SEAT CANE Filed Oct. 20, 1955 INVENTOR. WILLIAM B. NEBLIBH ATTORNEY United States Patent Gfi ice SEAT CANE William G. Neblich, Rochester, N. Y.

Application October 20, 1955, Serial No. 541,773

3 Claims. (Cl. 155-135) This invention relates to a portable seat or rest, which may be readily converted to a rigid cane or walking stick.

The invention is directed to a seat structure employing a central support column, and arms adapted to be splayed to support a canvas seat, one of which arms is extended to form a hand grip to steady the seat- When the arms are arranged parallel to the column, a rigid cane is provided that at once renders the seat readily portable, and useful as a cane during transport.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood that the drawings are employed for'purposesof illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts: e

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the seat opened for use;

Figure 2 is a top plan view;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a tubular column or staff 10, having on its lower end a rubber cup 12 adapted to engage the ground, and on its upper end a segmental collar 14 formed from three similar stamped parts 16, 18 and 20, each having an arcuate central portion portion 22 of somewhat less than 120, and radially outwardly extending ears 24 and 26. Between each ad- I jacent pair of cars of adjacent segments are pivotally mounted arms 28, 30 and 32, pivot pins in the form of rivets 34 connecting the adjacent ears, and passing through the flattened ends 36 of each of the arms 28, 30 and 32. The rivets tie the segments together to provide a rigid collar in tight engagement with the upper end of the tubular statf 10.

In order to rigidly locate the collar, and fix its position upon the tubular stafi, the arcuate portion of each of the segmental parts is provided with an inwardly projecting circumferentially extending ridge or bead 38 formed in the metal, and the end of the stafi is provided with a circumferential groove 40 rolled or otherwise formed therein to receive the ridges of the respective segmental parts. When the collar parts are assembled, and the rivets 34 formed, the segments closely and snugly embrace the column and the ridges lock the collar thus formed securely in place.

Each of the arms 28 and 30 comprises a tubular member flattened as at 36 to provide a tongue pivotally disposed between the respective ears of the collar segments. The tongues are each provided with angularly disposed flat edges 46 and 44, the edge 46 terminating in a notch 42 adapted to embrace the upper end of the staff 10. When the arm is swung to a position parallel with the staif, the fiat edge 46 bears against the external wall of the statf to limit the angular movement of the arm to the parallel position. The edge 44 is somewhat extended in the manner shown at 48, and the angle is such as to limit the angular position of the arm in respect to the staflf when pivoted to the seat open position as indicated.

The arm 32 is substantially longer than the arms 28 and 30, and at its upper end is provided with a semi-circular handle, and the total length of the arm 32 and staff 10, when swung to parallel relation is such as to provide a convenient length suitable to serve as a cane.

The outer ends of each of the arms 28 and 30 are flattened and rounded in the manner shown at 50, and are provided with apertures 52, for securing the rounded corner of a triangular seat canvas 54, the canvas being substantially equilateral in shape and having rounded apices 56. The seat canvas is provided with a suitable binding or trim strip 58 around its marginal edge, and two of such apices are secured to the flattened ends 50 of the arms 28 and 30 by threaded fastenings in the form of bolts and nuts 60, such fastenings being provided with a saddle like washer or plate 61 for clamping the canvas material to the arms.

The arm 32 is provided with an aperture 62 located the same distance'frorn its pivotal connection with the collar as the apertures 52,.and the third apex of the seat canvas is secured thereto 'bya threaded screw 64 and saddle washer 61.

- A- strap 66 secured to the handle member by a screw as at 68 is provided with a snap fastener 70 at its free end, which is adapted to yieldingly engage a complementary fastener member 71. The length of the strap is such as to closely and snugly embrace the arms 28, 30 and 32 and folded canvas seat when the arms are disposed in parallel relation, and the fastener is snapped in position over the member 71.

It will be seen that with the arms arranged in parallel relation, and the strap embracing such arms, that each of the arms cooperate with the others to provide a rigid extension of the stafi member whereby the staff 10 and arm 32 provide a rigid cane or walking stick.

When it is desired to use the device as a seat, the strap is unsnapped, the arms angularly disposed at their lower limit with the edges 44 in engagement with the staff so as to spread the canvas. When opened to form a seat in this manner, the canvas is at a suitable height to form a seat, and the user may rest upon the seat, with handle arm preferably projecting forwardly to a position where it may be conveniently gripped by the user. The person employing the seat will balance the weight of the upper portion of his body, steadying the seat both by his feet applied to the ground and by the convenient grip upon the handle end of the arm 32. If desired, an ice point (not shown) may be substituted for the rubber cup 12.

The various parts, being made of light weight tubing provides an extremely light weight cane, quickly convertible to form a seat rest, and has particular useful application in connection with older folks, and those desiring a convenient seat which can be carried to sporting events and the like.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had Patentecl Nov. 27, 1956 V 'to the appended the invention.

claims for a definition of thelimits of What is claimed is: V 1. A combined walking stick and seat comprising a staff having-a ground engaging member at one end and three arms pivotally attached at the other end on axes extending transversely of the staff, means to limit the pivotal movement of the arms between a position parallel with said stafl and a position angularly disposed with reference to thetstaff, said means comprising a pair of 'abutments on each of said arms, one abutment of each 2. A combined walking stick and seat comprising a staff,'a collar secured on one end of the staff comprising at least three segmental members each having a central arcuate portion and radially extending ears, pivotal means connecting the adjacent ears of adjacent segments, an arm having a tongue extending between each adjacent pair of ears and pivotally secured by said pivotal means, said tongue having angular movement limiting means adapted to engage'the staff to limit the movement of the, arms be}. tween positions parallel with the stafl and positions angularly disposed with reference to the staff, said means comprising a'pairof abutments on each of said arms, one abutment of each pair being adapted to engage the end of the staff, and the other the side wall of the staff below said pivotal means a triangle seat of flexible sheetmateriai secured to each of said arms at points equally distant from said pivotal means, and one of each arms being longer than the remaining and being formed to provide a handle, and means to bind the arms together in parallel relation to one another.

3. A combined walking stick and seat comprising a stat-f, a collar secured on one end of the stafl comprising at least three segmental members each having a central arcuate portion'and radially extending ears, pivotal means connecting the adjacent ears 'of adjacent segments, an

arm having a tongue extending between each'adjacent pair of ears and pivotally secured by'said pivotal means,

said tongue having angular movement limiting means adapted to engage the stafl to limit the movement of the arms between positions parallel with the staff and positions angularly disposed with reference to the staff, said means comprising a pair of abutments on each of said arms, one abutment of each pair being adapted to engage a the end of the staff, and the other the side wall of the stafi' below said pivotal means said arcuateportions each having a'circumferential internal ridge, and said staff having a circumferential groove to receive" said ridges, a triangle,

seat of flexible sheet material secured to each of said arms at points equally distant from said pivotal means, and one of each arms being longer than the'remaining andbeing formedtto provide a handle, and means to bind the arms together in parallel relation to one another said abutments engaging the end of said staff and serving together with said binding means to render said three arms as a rigid extension of said staff.

References Citedin the file'of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 533,539 Kincade Feb. 5, 1895 FOREIGN PATENTS w 1 11,351 Great Britain A. D. 1898 

